August William Roder, carrying on general farming and stock-raising upon two hundred acres of excellent land on section 16, Sumner township, was born in Wisconsin, February 4, 1864, and is a son of Carl and Christina (Paulus) Roder, natives of Germany. The parents came to America in 1852 and located near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the father followed the mason's trade for a number of years. He moved to Bremer county in 1874 and purchased eighty acres of slightly improved land of section 16, Sumner township. Upon this he erected a new house, which is part of the dwelling now occupied by the subject of this review. He was one of the organizers of the Zion Evangelical Association and was active in church work for a number of years. He died upon the farm now owned by the subject of this review on the 26th of March, 1885, in his sixty-third year. He is survived by his wife , who makes her home with her son. They were the parents of two children: Henry, an extensive landowner living retired in Sumner; and August William, of this review.

August William Roder was educated in the district schools of this county and has never left the homestead. This came into his possession after the death of his father and he has since added to it from time to time, his holdings now comprising two hundred acres. Upon this property he has erected a house and substantial barns and outbuildings and he has installed all the machinery necessary to facilitate the work of the fields. General farming and stock-raising engage his attention and he has met with excellent success, his prosperity rewarding intelligently directed effort and unremitting industry.

In Bremer county, March 10, 1887, Mr. Roder married Miss Carolina Schoephoerster, a daughter of J.F. Schoephoerster, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Roder have become the parents of five children, Carl Frederick, Emma L., Ella May, Amanda M. and William August.

Mr. Roder is a member of the Evangelical church and a republican in his political views. He is a man of high moral character, industrious and enterprising, and his honesty and uprightness have always merited him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.